266 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[April S4, 1890. 



tortstqmt %onrinL 



OLLA PODR1DA, 



IN the wide range of subjects discussed in the articles 

 which appear each week in Forest and Stream a 

 large fund of information and much pleasure and profit 

 is assured to its readers. And to us who love the woods 

 and wilds, the mountain stream and meadow brook, the 

 lake and pond, the sylvan glades and groves and hillsides 

 high, who erstwhile have had our piscatorial outings and 

 adventures of the chase, it comes as a renewal of the past 

 and a hope for the future. And if in dreams we return 

 to these diversions, and for a time are lost to matter-of- 

 fact every-day life, who shall say that it is in vain that 

 these recreations have been ours. Have we not, in look- 

 ing "from nature up to nature's God," made better prep- 

 arations for the time when we shall pass over to the 

 "happy hunting grounds," and when the final summons 

 comes are we not more fully prepared to say, as did the 

 Leatherstocking, "Here"? 



As the years glide by and our hopes and aspirations 

 become more circumscribed, and we look in vain for the 

 Mecca we have sought, our love for the pastimes of 

 bygone days increases, and we return to them with re- 

 newed zest and enjoyment. Toil and hardship are not 

 remembered as we awake from the exhaustion of the 

 preceding day. imbued with new life and vigor and as 

 anxious for the field or stream as if it was all new to us, 

 and our regard increases for those engaged in kindred 

 pursuits. I meet them often. Strangers in name but 

 brothers in feeling— a fellow feeling that "makes us won- 

 drous kind." We intuitively recognize that we are of 

 kith if not of kin, and lack not for thoughts to exchange or 

 words to express our good will and fellowship. We may 

 differ in opinion, but strive for what is best: are lenient 

 to failings and commendatory of that which is good. 



It has not been in my day until this year that wp have 

 had fishing in open water nearly all the season. I have 

 been able to dig worms in my garden, with the exception 

 of a few days, all winter. 



Two of the craft and myself were up at the reservoirs 

 up in the Bolton hills in January. The dog was with us 

 for he does not consider any party quite the thing unless 

 he makes one of the number. "We found the water verv 

 high, and a gale blowing, which made rather rough boat- 

 ing during the forenoon; but it subsided and was very 

 pleasant through the afternoon, and a warm sun glad- 

 dened us the remainder of the day. Our catch of fish 

 was not large, but we were more than repaid for the trip 

 by the phenomenon which we witnessed. The middle 

 and lower reservoirs cover what was once an extensive 

 cedar swamp, and the shores are lined with portions 

 of the stumps and roots of trees, some very large, of every 

 conceivable and fantastic shape imaginable, washed up 

 and worn smooth by the action of the water. These 

 reservoirs are dotted with a number of small islands 

 covered with a growth of cedar, maple and other wood 

 and cranberry bushes, and are partly floating; that is 

 there is water under them, and through one of them in 

 the middle reservoir holes have been cut, and good fish- 

 ing is had in from fifteen to twenty feet of water. Two 

 of these islands on the lower reservoir, one near the cen- 

 ter and the other further down, by reason of the hi°-h 

 water had broken from their moorings and floated to near 

 the lower end and grounded in deep water and become 

 fast. I have walked over and fished from most of them 

 and have no knowledge of any such movement previous 

 to this. We built a fire on the one which had the largest 

 growth, and were well protected from the boisterous 

 wind of the forenoon. 



I have never seen finer fish— especially the yellow 

 perch— than those taken during the month of January at 

 which time we consider perch and pickerel at their best 

 but I doubt if it is best to take either fish from the first of 

 December until after the spawning season had passed un- 

 less they are very plenty, as I observed that in January 

 the spawn was well advanced. 



I noticed in Forest and Stream of March 27 that the 

 United States Fish Commission were distributing land- 

 locked salmon eggs to the Commissioners of several 

 States, but Connecticut was not mentioned. I trust 

 something more will be done in this State to increase 

 this fish with us. The winanish or landlocked salmon 

 was introduced into a number of lakes and ponds in this 

 State some years since, but very few are taken. In con- 

 versation a few day 8 ago with a gentleman who is well 

 acquainted with the fishing waters of the State, he said 

 he had come to tho conclusion that they are a difficult 

 fish to propagate, and my opinion is that they don't mul- 

 tiply fast. I have noticed items from different localities 

 that have led me to think others have found it so. We 

 certainly have fine clear streams and lakes, and there is 

 no apparent reason why this fish should not thrive in 

 these waters. Take for instance the Scantic and Farm- 

 ington rivers, which empty into the Connecticut. Snipsic 

 Lake and Square Pond in Tolland county the several 

 streams and lakes in Litchfield and other counties than 

 which there are no more pure or better waters on the 

 earth, and why is it we cannot have the winanish in 

 plenty? 



Various articles have appeared in Forest and Stream 

 on the subject of domesticating the partridge. I have 

 tried that myself but not with success. Some years since 

 m driving over an unfrequented road I came to a sandv 

 spot where there was a depression in the road of several 

 feet. At this point a partridge was in the sand with her 

 brood. The old bird and most of the young escaped up 

 the bank into the brush, but the sand was loose and the 

 young birds slipped, and I succeeded in capturing three 

 which were carried home, where a hen was just off the 

 nest with a brood of chickens. A suitable coop was made 

 and the young birds put with the hen and chickens. The 

 hen took as much care of them as with her own, but they 

 were continually searching for a place to get out. 

 Finally one died and then another, the last one livino- 

 about two weeks. I have not endeavored to keep one 

 since, although I found one in my com house several 

 winters ago, and a lively bird it was. My experience has 

 taught me they thrive best if left alone. There are some 

 lett in this part ot the country notwithstanding the large 

 number killed by the pot-hunters, and occasionally some 

 « 6 *w D j W - we w&nt is more stringent laws; 

 JS««fi^i UdB Wll] ™ reaae - w e want laws that wil 

 benefit the poor as well ag the rich 



Massachusetts and Rhode Island B P ortsm*n are doing 



good work in stocking those States with game, and we of 

 Connecticut should not be left behind. I have thought 

 of putting out a few Chinese pheasants. I understand 

 they do well in Oregon, and I can see no reason why they 

 should not do well here. 



It has been my fortune to hunt wild hogs once in this 

 good old commonwealth. Some years ago several hogs 

 escaped from a drove and got into a large tract of heavy 

 timber and swamp land. In the fall they became trouble- 

 some, coming out at night and destroying large quantities 

 of corn, which was in the shock. Parties were organized 

 to hunt them, but the 'hogs were too cunning for the 

 hunters, and the depredations continued. The locality 

 frequented by the hogs was about three and one-half 

 miles from where I resided at the time. Early one crisp, 

 frosty morning late in the fall, George, a colored man 

 who was brought up on the farm, the large dog and my- 

 self started in search of the hogs. We had heavy double- 

 barreled shotguns loaded with large charges of powder 

 and buckshot. When about one mile from the timber 

 where the hogs were supposed to be, the farmers were 

 getting out around their premises, and to our inquiries 

 in regard to the hogs, said we should lose our time hunt- 

 ing them, that people in that district had built huts and 

 watched for them at night, but without success. We, 

 however, continued on into the timber, and, after getting 

 well in, hitched the horse and took the dog in toward the 

 swamp. 



In less than half an hour the dog was on the track, and 

 then the fun commenced. The underbrush covered the 

 ground and was difficult to penetrate, and we could see 

 in only a short distance, but could hear the animals crash- 

 ing through the brush. Creeping through the low under- 

 brush, after two hours we reached a wet piece of ground, 

 and could hear not far off the hogs breaking then- way 

 among the bushes. Soon a large white hog came into 

 view in a small open place a few rods distant. He 

 stopped a short time with head up, and George let go 

 one barrel without dropping him, and he was soon in the 

 brush again. In the meantime an acquaintance, who 

 had come into the timber some distance to the north, had 

 shot a black and white one. George and I became separ- 

 ated. I followed the dog down the swamp as fast as the 

 dense growth would permit, and soon could hear the dog. 

 Plunging under low-hanging limbs and bushes. I came to 

 a place clear of trees and small growth, but grown up to 

 tall, coarse grass, ripe and yellow. Here the hog was at 

 bay. I spoke to the dog, and he sprang forward and 

 caught the hog by the ear, and then commenced a tussle 

 between the dog and hog. I could not shoot for fear of 

 hurting the dog, but at last I saw my opportunity, and 

 gave him one barrel back of the shoulder, which brought 

 him down. Tige held by the ear until George came up, 

 then we bled him and drew the carcass out of the swamp. 

 We got our horse and wagon as near as the nature of the 

 ground would admit, loaded the meat and went home. 

 We had one hundred and sixty pounds of dressed pork, 

 which I shared with my neighbors who wanted to taste 

 wild hog. 



While on one of my many hunts the past season, dur- 

 ing which I covered a large territory in a wild part, of 

 the country, a long distance from* any habitation, I 

 crossed a piece of woodland on low ground, on the far 

 side of which, just as the land rose to the open, a small 

 •clear stream rippled over its pebbly bed. The spot was 

 not fa mi liar, and as I came out of the timber and crossed 

 the stream, I noticed a short distance from its banks on 

 the higher land, four rough stone posts connected by 

 rude rods of iron, inclosing a space of about 10ft. square. 

 The spot is not much more than a wilderness now, and 

 at the time this inclosure was made, must have been a 

 very wild part of the country. I was at a loss to under- 

 stand the purpose for which the inclosure was made, but 

 going over the land beyond, a depression appeared, 

 where, in years long gone, there had evidently been 

 some kind of a building. Only here and there remains a 

 stone to mark the foundation of what was once the home, 

 as I have sin«e learned, of the man whose body has long 

 since mouldered to dust beneath the sod within the in- 

 closure. No evidences of a grave are visible and the sur- 

 roundings were so peculiar, that I made inquiry at the 

 nearest house for information, but, although the people 

 were old residents, I could not gratify my curiosity, and 

 it is but lately that I heard the history, as far as known, 

 of Abraham Witherington, a famous hunter and fish- 

 erman in his day and generation; generous to a fault, 

 always ready to lend a helping hand, a man in whom it 

 is said there was no guile. 



Here he lived for forty years, and his hands inclosed 

 the land that became his resting place, when at four 

 score-and-two years he laid life's burden down. As I 

 have since looked on the spot the lines of the poet came 

 forcibly to mind. A white birch shades tbe inclosure, 

 and a short distance to the south are the remains of a 

 great white oak: 



"Where ia the grave of Sir Arthur Orellan; 



Where may the grave of that good knight be? 

 By the marge of a brook on the slope of Helvellyn, 



Under the boughs of a young birch tree. 

 The oak that in summer was pleasant to hear. 



That rustled in autumn, all withered and sear. 

 That whistled and groaned thro' the winter alone, 



He hath gone! an/I a birch in his place is grown." 



How little we know of the hopes, joys, aspirations and 

 disappointments of others. They go" their way, and at 

 last are laid at rest, and a whole history of marvellous 

 happenings is buried with them, and the meagre knowl- 

 edge we gain is all that is known of their life's battle. 

 So it was with this man; little is known of him previous 

 to his residence here. For those many years his home 

 was in a small house a short distance east of the inclos- 

 ure, and he cultivated a few adjoining acres: this with 

 hunting and fishing occupied his time. It is said that 

 when about twenty-eight years of age he became deeply 

 attached to an Indian maiden, a member of a tribe then 

 quite numerous in the eastern part of the State. He was 

 a great favorite with most of the tribe, particularly with 

 this girl's father and brother. Abraham had hunted 

 much with the Indians, and was looked on with as much 

 favor as any of the tribe by all with the exception of one, 

 a young Indian who had made advances to the maiden. 

 Being of a sullen, morose and treacherous disposition, he 

 was regarded kindly by but few and was a bitter enemy 

 of Abraham, not only on account of the favor shown him 

 by the girl, but because Abraham had been the more suc- 

 cessful hunter, and at one of the trials of skill in tbe use 



of the rifle had shown himself the better marksman. On 

 the evening of this day Abraham and the girl were stand- 

 ing near a large tree in conversation, when the report of 

 a gun disturbed the quiet of the evening and the ball 

 struck the trpe near which they stood. Although nothing 

 certain was known about it, the shot was thought to have 

 been fired by this Indian. 



The hunter and the girl married shortly after this and 

 went to his home a few miles distant, where he cultivated 

 a small farm. Six months after the marriage Wilming- 

 ton left home early in the morning in pursuit of game, 

 leaving his young wife in health and happiness, and 

 returned in the evening to find her a corpse. A great 

 wound on the head told the fearful tale. Friends found 

 the husband almost a maniac, but after the simple fune- 

 ral rites an unnatural calmness came over the man. Al- 

 though he was kind and affable to all, there seemed in 

 him a fixed purpose that did not sleep. The Indian suitor 

 was suspected of the crime, but be had disappeared and 

 was not seen again, but rumor said that a bullet from the 

 hunter's rifle found and sent him to answer for his evil 

 deed. Jonathan. 



Manchester Greejt, Conn. 



FLORIDA FISHING. 



SAN CARLOS HOTEL, St. James City, Pine Island. 

 Fla. — I had been nearly two weeks at the Ponce de 

 Leon Hotel, St. Augustine, Fla., enjoying the luxuries of 

 that famous hosteh-y, which in point of architectural 

 beauty, delicacy of finish, richness and luxuriousness of 

 furnishing and completeness of its entire equipment, ex- 

 cepting perhaps its cuisine, has no superior as a winter 

 home, when I decided to make a trip to the waters of 

 Charlotte Harbor and try my hand at the varied sea fish 

 with which its waters abound. 



To reach this point you have a journey of more than 

 300 miles by road and steamer, and pass through or near 

 some of the attractive places of Florida. I met in t:. 

 course of this last stage of the railway journey the. supe* 

 intendent of the road, who, in addition to giving much 

 information respecting the country passed over, a'so had 

 an interesting story to tell concerning the Indian chief, 

 Tallahassee, who is at the head of the remnant of Semi- 

 nole Indians that are still to be found in Florida , It 

 seems that, while the line was beiug constructed, Talla- 

 hassee, accompanied by his wives and some of his male 

 followers, often visited the work and watched with evi- 

 dent interest its progress. After its completion the 

 superintendent, who had acquired the confidence of the 

 chief, persuaded him to take a ride, which he reluctantly 

 consented to do. When the train was fully under way 

 the superintendent sent word to the engine driver to go 

 ahead with full speed. Tallahassee at once entered in. •> 

 the spirit of it, and uttering a war cry, began swinging 

 his arm violently in a circle, as if in imitation of the rap- 

 idly revolving wheels. At the end of the journey he ex- 

 pressed his great delight and pleasure for the fast ride 

 he had taken, and voluntarily promised the superintend- 

 ent a handsome otter skin; and although five month - 

 elapsed before he redeemed this promise, yet it was faith- 

 fully kept, and a very handsome skin it proved to be. 



Our railway journey terminated at PuntaGorda, which 

 was reached about 10 P. M. We passed the night here 

 and greatly enjoyed the comforts of the Punta Gorda 

 Hotel, an excellently appointed house and admirably 

 well kept. The last stage of this journey was made by 

 steamer, and the sail of about fifty miles through the 

 waters of Charlotte Harbor and past the numerous keys 

 with which it is dotted, was very enjoyable. 



St. James, at the southern end of Pine Island, is well 

 situated as respects the various fishing grounds, and, 

 being comparatively near the inlet, through which the 

 waters .of the Caloosahatchee River flow, the sea fish are 

 especially abundant in its neighborhood. I find here at 

 least seventy-five sportsmen, several of whom, with their 

 families, have made it their headquarters during a good 

 share of the winter. But I mu3t hasten on and tell you 

 of my adventures in fishing. The first work was to secure 

 an experienced boatman, one familial- with the waters 

 and the best fishing places. As I did not aspire to kill a 

 tarpon, this was not difficult, and although the man I 

 engaged promised that he would take me where I'd be 

 sure to get one, I resisted his offer and started out 

 equipped only for taking smaller fish. Fly-fishing is 

 practical in these waters, and the sea-trout, redfish (also 

 called channel bass), cavalli (jackfish) and ravallia all 

 take the fly, but it was rather early in the season for this 

 mode of fishing, and as I did not hear that any one was 

 using the fly, I followed the example of others and took 

 the more sure, although less skillful method of bait-fish- 

 ing. This was chiefly by trolling, the bait used being ti e 

 belly of the mullet, the fisherman cutting the bait in such 

 a shape as to resemble a small fish. This is quite an art, 

 and upon it depends in a large degree one's success. You 

 either row or sail to the fishing ground, the best points 

 being an hour or more distant from the hotel. 



And now I do not think I can do better than give yci 

 extracts from my note book, in which I recorded eaon 

 day '8 work. 



Friday, March 7.— Left the hotel a little after 7 A. M., 

 and was rowed by my guide and boatmen, Samuel Pierce. 

 First fish taken was a redfish (channel bass); he was a 

 good-sized fellow and gavw good sport. As the jaws of 

 this fish are strong and tough, one does not fear that the 

 hook will break away, and hence you can take your time 

 in killing him, and with light tackle he gives splendid 

 sport. If a heavy fish the boatman usually assists you by 

 gaffing him when he is brought within reach. My next 

 fish was a sea trout. He seizes the bait with vigor, and 

 for a little while struggles manfully to get away; but 

 the fight is not for long, and he is soon hauled in. As 

 they have a very delicate mouth, many that are hooked 

 get away. He is a handsome fellow when first taken 

 from the water, and resembles somewhat the weakfish of 

 the North. They run from one to six or Eeven pounds. 

 I believe he takes the fly better than almost any of the 

 sea fish I've heard of in these waters; the fly should be 

 sunk a little way beneath the surface of the water by at- 

 taching a small shot to the leader. These fish were fol- 

 lowed by more trout and redfish, and thpn the boatman 

 took me to a grouper hole, where we anchored aBd fished 

 in quite deep water, using stronger hooks than those re- 

 quired for bass or trout. This is a strong and compact 

 fish, and looks not unlike a large codfish. I killed five in 

 the course of an hour, the heaviest weighing over ten 

 pounds. Thisfiah frequents the rocky ledges, and, his first 

 attempt after being hooked is to make for his hole, and 



